Criteria for Initiation & Termination

The director of public works shall monitor water supply and demand conditions on a daily basis and determine when conditions warrant initiation or termination of each stage of the plan, that is, when the specified "triggers" are reached. The triggering criteria described below are based on the city's ability to receive water from the Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA) from the City of Houston's Southeast Water Purification Plant. Production amounts shall be based on a seven-day average daily demand.

Stage 1 Triggers - Mild Water Shortage Conditions

Requirements for Initiation

Customer shall be requested to voluntarily conserve water and adhere to the prescribed restrictions on certain water uses, as defined in this policy, when:

Water demand for the city is 80% of the available contracted surface water sources per day for a seven-day average; or

City wells are producing at 20% of their capacity to augment an inadequate supply of contracted surface water over a seven-day average.

Requirements for Termination

Stage 1 of the plan may be rescinded when all of the conditions listed as triggering events have ceased to exist for a period of seven consecutive days.

Stage 2 Triggers - Moderate Water Shortage Conditions

Requirements for Initiation

Customer shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain non-essential water uses specified in section 114-229 when:

Water demand for the city is 87% of the available contracted surface water sources per day for a seven-day average; or

City wells are producing at 30% of their capacity to augment an inadequate supply of contracted surface water over a seven-day average.

Requirements for Termination

Stage 2 of the plan may be rescinded when all of the conditions listed as triggering events have ceased to exist for a period of seven consecutive days. Upon termination of Stage 2, Stage 1 becomes operative.

Stage 3 Triggers - Severe Water Shortage Conditions

Requirements for Initiation

Customers shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain non-essential water uses for Stage 3 of this plan when:

Water demand for the city is 90% of the available contracted surface water sources per day for a seven-day average; or

City wells are producing at 40% of their capacity to augment an inadequate supply of contracted surface water over a seven-day average.

Requirements for Termination

Stage 3 of the plan may be rescinded when all of the conditions listed as triggering events have ceased to exist for a period of seven consecutive days. Upon termination of Stage 3, Stage 2 becomes operative.

Stage 4 Triggers - Critical Water Shortage Conditions

Requirements for Initiation

Customers shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain non-essential water uses for Stage 4 of this plan when:

Water demand for the city is 98% of the available contracted surface water sources per day for a seven-day average; or

City wells are producing at 50% of their capacity to augment an inadequate supply of contracted surface water over a seven-day average.

Requirements for Termination

Stage 4 of the plan may be rescinded when all of the conditions listed as triggering events have ceased to exist for a period of seven consecutive days. Upon termination of Stage 4, Stage 3 becomes operative.

Stage 5 Triggers - Emergency Water Shortage Conditions

Requirements for Initiation

Customer shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions for Stage 5 of this plan when the director of public works, or his / her designee, determines that a water supply emergency exists based on:

Major water line breaks, or pump or system failures occur, which cause unprecedented loss of capability to provide water service; or

Natural or man-made contamination of the water supply source(s).

Requirements for Termination

Stage 5 of the plan may be rescinded when all of the conditions listed as triggering events have ceased to exist for a period of seven consecutive days.